WHIAAPI Weekly Highlights

Welcome to this edition of the WHIAAPI Weekly Highlights.  It has been an exciting few weeks for the WHIAAPI: our Commission and Interagency Working Group on AAPIs met with President Obama about how all the federal agencies can help win the future for AAPI communities.  Next week WHIAAPI and Commissioners Sefa Aina and Hines Ward will host the first Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Youth Health and Fitness Day event on April 2 in Los Angeles, CA!  Read below for more details on more of these exciting events.

On March 14, AAPI  leaders appointed by President Obama presented a report entitled Winning the Future: A Road Map for the Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Community, to the White House with recommendations on how 23 federal agencies and offices can improve the everyday lives of AAPIs. The report addresses problems uniquely facing AAPIs, such as linguistic isolation, health problems that disproportionally affect AAPIs and bullying and other civil rights issues.  Details outlined in the report were submitted by each agency to address priorities established by the White House Initiative -- creating healthy communities and sustainable neighborhoods, expanding educational opportunities, increasing economic growth and improving civil rights.

There is still an opportunity to comment on many of these agency plans.  This is your opportunity to influence and shape policy in a meaningful way, and we want you to check them out and tell us what you think!  Comments are due on March 31, 2011.

Read a blog by Pat Shiu, DOL Director of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, about the recent Interagency Working Group meeting and the plan by DOL to bring their vision of “Good Jobs for Everyone” to the AAPI community. 

Check out another blog by WHIAAPI Commissioner Kamuela Enos, who gives his perspective on the recent Interagency Working Group meeting and outlines a few winning strategies that agencies are using to help AAPIs achieve the American dream.

Next week, on March 29, WHIAAPI Deputy Director Christina Lagdameo will provide keynote remarks at the University of Maryland, Annual Celebration of Women.  The celebration will grant four major awards to faculty, staff and students for their dedication, commitment and outstanding service related to women. 

WHIAAPI Executive Director Kiran Ahuja and staff will participate in the South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) 2011 South Asian Summit in Washington, DC, April 1-4.  Staff, along with other federal representatives, will participate in roundtables on immigration, civil rights and issues impacting AAPI women, engaging with over 150 participants from around the country.

WHIAAPI staff and Commissioners Sefa Aina, Hines Ward and Kamuela Enos are leading efforts to increase awareness around the alarming rates of overweight and obesity in the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.  The WHIAAPI will hold a Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Youth Health and Fitness Day event on April 2 in Los Angeles, CA.  Program speakers and activities will promote healthy eating and physical activity. See the attached flyer and for details on the event.

Register for Important Upcoming Events:

WHIAAPI is proud to partner with the Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) and the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics to present a series of National Conversations on English Learner Education.  You are cordially invited to attend one of the sessions happening on April 11-12 in New York, NY and Charlotte, NC.  We encourage you to invite your colleagues as well.  If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Edgar at ryan.edgar@ed.gov.

The Small Business Administration is planning a national tour and you are encouraged to sign up and share this information with other entrepreneurs in the community.  Click here to find out how you can get involved in a city near you. 

If you have friends or family that would like to join our efforts, please have them click here.